Brotherhood of the Struggle Information

 

Scope: The Brotherhood of Struggle was formed in the State of Illinois Prison System in the 60's and is a spinoff of the "Black Gangster Disciple Nation" from Chicago. The Brotherhood in New England region was founded on the streets of Bridgeport, Stamford, and Norwalk in the mid to late 80's.

There are also reports of Brotherhood members in the cities of Danbury and Waterbury.

Gender Make Up: Males, few Females in Gang Racial Make Up: Primarily black males Organization: The Brotherhood has an established hierarchy and a chain of command as follows: President, Vice President, Generals of Security, Lieutenants, Representatives, Secretary of Communication, Secretary, Spokesman of Roots, Investigators,Treasury

By-Laws: There are Currently fifteen by-laws which the members follow, along with a pledge of oth that all members take upon entering the gang.

Gang Colors: White beads worn on the neck or wrist, and white bands on hand, and at times have worn black/white beads.

Emblem: Members of the Brotherhood display the Star of David, the initials BE, and at times display their belts open and turned to the right.

Alliances: Folk Nation, Gangster Disciples, Latin Kings, Pump Nation, ÑetaETA, Nation and at times the BOWS.

Rival Gangs: 20 Lov, Los Solidos, Black Gangster Disciples, ECB. Criminal Activity: Narcotics, Weapons, Extortion, Assaults, and intimidation. History: The Brotherhood Struggle was formed in the state of Illinois prison system in the 60's and is a spinoff of the"Black Gangster Disciple Nation" In Connecticut, "The Brotherhood of struggle" gang was founded on the streets of Bridgeport, Stamford, and Norwalk in the mid to late 80's.

The members of the Brotherhood are also reported to be in the City of Danbury and Waterbury, where numerous graffiti indicating their presence has been found in that city.

Propensity for Violence: Members of the Brotherhood have exhibited violence both inside our Correctional Facilities and on the streets of the State of Connecticut. violence includes assaults on staff, inmates, and gang members who do not conduct themselves in a manner which is in accordance to the gang's rules. Brotherhood members have also assaulted inmates who refuse to join their gang.

Finances: The main source of income for the Brotherhood is funds derived from drug trade and extortion.

Leadership: The Brotherhood is organized with rank structure to include President, vice president, Generals of Security, Lieutenants, Representatives, Secretary of Communications, Secretary, Spokesman of Roots, Investigators and Treasury. It has been confirmed that Richard Bush and Thomas Bush both of Bridgeport are the founders of the Brotherhood in Connecticut.

Local Leadership: The Brotherhood has established local leadership in the communities of Bridgeport, Stamford, Norwalk,Danbury,and Waterbury. It is also confirmed that leadership has been established within correctional facilities.

Weapons: The Brotherhood members are known to possess weapons and utilize semi and fully automatic weapons on the street. They carry and will use these weapons to protect their drug turf and trade. Inside of our facilities Brotherhood members have been found in possession of shanks, and at one of our facilities one member alone was charged with possessing 25 homemade shanks. Brotherhood members also protect other members with their (MOST), Member of Security Team. These members stand posts in dining halls, recreation areas, and housing units to protect other Brotherhood members form attacks by rival gang members. The Brotherhood is also into a peace treaty with the Latin Kings, Pump Nation, and NETA. Intelligence from our facilities has indicated that on at least two occasions the Brotherhood has honored this treaty by backing these gangs when they engaged rival gangs in disturbances.

Brotherhood Update: The Brotherhood was designated as a Security Risk Group by the Commissioner of the Connecticut Department of Correction on December 08, 1994. Since then there have been approximately 40 Brotherhood members who have had their membership validated in accordance with our policy, Administrative Directive 6.14, Security Risk Groups.

Here is some additional information on The Brotherhood of the Struggle from another source

HISTORY

The Brotherhood Struggle (B.O.S) was formed in the State of Illinois Prison System in the 60's and is a spinoff of the "Black Gangster Disciple Nation" from Chicago. In Chicago the B.O.S. and the B.G.D. are seen as nearly synonymous.

The members of the New England gang known as the B.O.S. consider and refer to each other as "Gangsters". The B.O.S. and the Nation gang in Connecticut sometimes use the initials B.O.S in the graffiti in reference to the "Brotherhood of the Struggle"; incarcerated Brotherhood members, who are currently in struggle with the Correctional System. The Brotherhood is also referred to at times as The "Brotherhood Of Roots", as is evidenced by their graffiti. (See photo section)

Members of the Brotherhood are predominately black, male, and are known to walk with their belt buckles open, turned to the right, wear their right pants leg rolled up, or have a handkerchief tied around their right arm or leg.

In the late 60's and the early 70's, several gangs in the Chicago area formed a "Nation" of gangs in response to the emergence of gangs in the area. The leader and founder of the "Black Gangster Disciple Nation" (BGDN), was David "King David" Barksdale, who was wounded in an ambush in 1969 and died of kidney failure in 1974. The Brotherhood of Struggle is a direct spinoff of the BGDN.

The Star of David, a six pointed star, was adopted by the gang in his honor and is displayed by members of the Brotherhood here in Connecticut, on the streets as well as in our facilities. In addition Brotherhood members display white beads, white bracelet on their wrists, and a white band or ring on their finger.

In Connecticut, "The Brotherhood of Struggle" gang was founded on the streets of Bridgeport, Stamford and Norwalk in the mid to late 80's. The members of the Brotherhood are also reported to be in the City of Danbury and Waterbury, where numerous graffiti indicating their presence has been found in that city.

PURPOSE OF THE GANG

The Brotherhood has been involved in narcotics trafficking, violent incidents including brutal assaults on staff, inmates, citizens in the community and extortion. Intimidation, recruiting, and weapons possessions have also been reported in our Correctional Facilities.

ORGANIZONAL STRUCTURE

Based on information on file, it has been confirmed via intelligence that the Founders of the Brotherhood in Connecticut are out and in the Bridgeport area.

Presidents- are the two founders

Vice President - 1

Generals of security, "MOST" - Minister Of Security Team - 6 members.

Lieutenants - 5 members

Representatives - 7 members

Secretary of Communication -

Secretary - 3 members.

Spokesman of Roots - 1

Investigators - ?

Treasury - 1

There is further information avaliable to qualified Law Enforcement Officers. For further information contact segag@ctol.net

ASSOCIATION WITH OTHER GROUPS

The Brotherhood has aligned themselves with members of the Nation, Latin Kings, and NETA gang. Their exists in writing a treaty between these four gangs and on occasions they have abided by this treaty when engaging rival gangs in fights.

This alliance is along geographical lines, being that their allies are mostly Bridgeport area based gangs.

BYLAWS

The Brotherhood adhere to a set of fifteen rules and regulations, "qualifications and positional functions" of ranking members, and a formal "pledge" and "oath" that all members of the Brotherhood take upon entering the Brotherhood.

They also adhere to a Code for "Penalties and Infractions", which include penalties and fines for violations.

IDENTIFICATION

Brotherhood members identify each other by means of "colors", white beads, worn on the neck or on their wrists. Brotherhood members also can be identified by also wearing black and white beads. Members who are on the Ministers of security Team wear a white band on the ring finger.

Other means of identifying Brotherhood members are graffiti which comes in the form of "BOS", "ROOTS", and "BROTHERHOOD OF ROOTS". Members also have used arms crossed in front to show the "X" mark, and wear tattoos which are similar to their graffiti. Members also greet each other by shaking hands, with thumbs facing upward.

PROPENSITY FOR VIOLENCE

Members of the Brotherhood have exhibited violence both inside our Correctional Facilities and on the streets of New England. Violence includes assaults on staff, inmates, and gang members who do not conduct themselves in a manner which is in accordance to the gang's rules. Brotherhood members have also assaulted inmates who refuse to join their gang.